Somali govt accuses Arab League of bias

[N.O.R.F]

Somali govt accuses Arab League of bias

 

NAIROBI (AFP) - Somalia's weak government has accused the Arab League of bias towards the country's powerful Islamist movement and warned that upcoming Arab-mediated peace talks are in jeopardy, officials said Thursday.

The government made the charge this week in a letter to international organisations in which it complained that Arab League mediators are favouring the Islamists who are now in control of much of southern and central Somalia.

 

In the October 2 letter, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi suggests the alleged bias may crater a planned third round of peace talks due to begin in Sudan on October 30.

 

"It is regrettable that in the process of the preparation for the third round of talks in Khartoum at the end of the month, the secretariat general of the League of Arab States is not neutral in managing the affairs of Somalia," he wrote.

 

"Rather it is bent on supporting the Islamic courts union as evidence shows," Gedi said, noting the silence of the Arab League and others on the Islamists' seizure of the key port of Kismayo and other towns last week.

 

"Such conduct will undermine the common efforts that all are displaying for the sake of promoting peace and stability in Somalia and will contribute to the erosion of the confidence that the transitional federal government places in the role of the Arab League," he said.

 

Government spokesman Abdirahman Mohamed Nur Dinari confirmed to AFP that Gedi had sent the letter, which was addressed to the United Nations, African Union, Arab League, European Union and other groupings.

 

Dinari also claimed that Arab League officials had been making secret contacts with Islamist officials without informing the government despite agreements reached at the last round of talks for all parties to be involved.

 

"This is an indication that the league of Arab nations is unfair and it is biased towards the Syariah courts," he said.

 

"We warn the international community that it will pay a heavy price in the future if it fails to stop or even condemn the violations and aggression by the Islamists," Dinari said, stressing the government remains committed to peace.

 

However, a senior government official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the administration would likely boycott the talks unless the Islamists were pressed to halt their advances.

 

"How can we even think of sending delegates to Khartoum while they have continued their aggression, which violates the ceasefire and has even made clear its intention of ruling Somalia," the official said.

 

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